Post by Teddy Bear on Apr 16, 2014 21:36:16 GMT
Now why would a chairman of a struggling bank, also a Methodist minister, who had previously been fired for having porn on his computer while in public office, and now charged with possession of Class A abd C drugs, feel that the BBC was his friend?
Perhaps the fact the 'struggling bank' was the Co-op, which, if for no other reason, had issued a boycott on Israel 2 years ago, has something to do with it.
But most of all, this would account for it:
For most of us reading the scandals surrounding this man, we'd want to see him being given a hard time. But not the BBC - they're his friend.
Birds of a feather....
Perhaps the fact the 'struggling bank' was the Co-op, which, if for no other reason, had issued a boycott on Israel 2 years ago, has something to do with it.
But most of all, this would account for it:
Labour Party
In the 1970s Flowers was vice-chairman of Eastleigh Labour Party, and contested Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire county council elections.[6]
Flowers unsuccessfully stood for selection in 1985 as the Labour candidate to contest the Coventry South East parliamentary seat, supported by branches of his union as a former bank worker, the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union. He describing himself as "towards the centre" politically in this campaign.
In the Rochdale council election of 1988 he gained a seat in the Smallbridge and Wardleworth ward, holding it until 1992.[4][20] Flowers was vice-chairman of Rochdale Council's social services committee[21] at the time of a Satanic abuse scandal, and was responsible for rejecting allegations of child sex abuse by the late Cyril Smith.
He then moved to Bradford, serving for ten years on the city council. He resigned his seat in Great Horton in September 2011, stating that it was due to his "increased responsibilities as Co-op Bank's chairman." In light of the 2013 drugs scandal, Bradford City Council revealed that, in 2011, "Inappropriate but not illegal adult content was found on a council computer handed in by Councillor Flowers for servicing. This was put to him and he resigned immediately."
In 2010 he was appointed by new Labour Party leader Ed Miliband to the Party's finance and industry advisory board. On 6 March 2013 as part of his membership of the group, Labour leader Ed Miliband met Flowers to discuss UK banking reform.
Flowers had told MPs on the Banking Committee that he had helped to arrange the donation to Ed Balls office although Ed Balls insisted that Flowers had nothing do to with the donation. The scandal surrounding the revelations led the Conservative Party Chairman, Grant Shapps to ask the Labour Party leadership to disclose details of any private meetings with Flowers and to return a £50,000 donation to Ed Balls's office that Flowers had backed.
In the 1970s Flowers was vice-chairman of Eastleigh Labour Party, and contested Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire county council elections.[6]
Flowers unsuccessfully stood for selection in 1985 as the Labour candidate to contest the Coventry South East parliamentary seat, supported by branches of his union as a former bank worker, the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union. He describing himself as "towards the centre" politically in this campaign.
In the Rochdale council election of 1988 he gained a seat in the Smallbridge and Wardleworth ward, holding it until 1992.[4][20] Flowers was vice-chairman of Rochdale Council's social services committee[21] at the time of a Satanic abuse scandal, and was responsible for rejecting allegations of child sex abuse by the late Cyril Smith.
He then moved to Bradford, serving for ten years on the city council. He resigned his seat in Great Horton in September 2011, stating that it was due to his "increased responsibilities as Co-op Bank's chairman." In light of the 2013 drugs scandal, Bradford City Council revealed that, in 2011, "Inappropriate but not illegal adult content was found on a council computer handed in by Councillor Flowers for servicing. This was put to him and he resigned immediately."
In 2010 he was appointed by new Labour Party leader Ed Miliband to the Party's finance and industry advisory board. On 6 March 2013 as part of his membership of the group, Labour leader Ed Miliband met Flowers to discuss UK banking reform.
Flowers had told MPs on the Banking Committee that he had helped to arrange the donation to Ed Balls office although Ed Balls insisted that Flowers had nothing do to with the donation. The scandal surrounding the revelations led the Conservative Party Chairman, Grant Shapps to ask the Labour Party leadership to disclose details of any private meetings with Flowers and to return a £50,000 donation to Ed Balls's office that Flowers had backed.
For most of us reading the scandals surrounding this man, we'd want to see him being given a hard time. But not the BBC - they're his friend.
Birds of a feather....
Co-op boss blames media vultures for downfall... but not 'nice BBC'
By Chris Brooke
Disgraced former Co-op Bank chairman Paul Flowers launched an attack on the media as he was charged with three drugs offences today.
Arriving at a police station to answer bail, he told the assembled reporters and photographers that they were ‘vultures’.
However, the man dubbed the ‘Crystal Methodist’ said he would make an exception for the BBC – which had always been ‘really nice’ to him.
Flowers was charged with three counts of possessing illegal drugs and will appear before magistrates next month.
He was arrested in November following newspaper allegations that he was involved in a drug deal.
But while criticising reporters in a bizarre outburst yesterday, he said: ‘There is a phrase for some people, they call them vultures, and I really do hope that somebody quotes me on that, especially the BBC.
‘The BBC have been really nice to me but the rest of you are vultures.’
Flowers, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been charged with possession of Class A drugs cocaine and methamphetamine as well as the Class C drug ketamine.
He made no comment after leaving the police station at Stainbeck in Leeds.
Flowers, who has been attending an addiction treatment programme, turned up accompanied by two minders and carrying the book, Dazzling Darkness –– Gender, Sexuality, Illness and God.
Written by Rachel Mann, an Anglican parish priest, it is described as a ‘passionate and nuanced book’ bringing together ‘poetry, feminist theology, and philosophy and exploring them through one person’s hunger for wholeness, self-knowledge and God’.
Flowers’s solicitor Andrew Hollas said the former bank boss would make a ‘full statement’ following his appearance at Leeds Magistrates Court on May 7.
Mr Hollas also took the opportunity to criticise the media.
He said his client had been ‘hounded for six months by certain elements of the Press’ and many allegations were ‘completely without foundation’.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had ‘carefully considered’ a file of evidence against Flowers before pressing charges.
Flowers was suspended by both the Methodist Church and the Labour Party following allegations that he bought and used illegal drugs.
Flowers is charged with two counts of drugs possession
He had stepped down from his position at the Co-op last June, but publicity about his alleged drug habit prompted questions about how he was deemed suitable to run a bank.
It also emerged that he quit as a Labour councillor in Bradford after porn was found on his computer, although at the time he claimed he was leaving because of the pressure of work.
The Co-operative Bank confirmed last year it was seeking to recover payments totalling £31,000 made to Flowers amid reports that he was also the subject of an inquiry into ‘lavish’ expenses claims when he resigned.
While on bail last month, Flowers gave an interview to the BBC about the furore and admitted he had ‘sinned’.
He said: ‘I am in company with every other human being for having my frailties and some fragility exposed. Most people get through life without that ever coming into the public domain.’
He described the months since his arrest as ‘hellish’ at times.
A second man, Gavin Woroniuk, has been charged with four offences of offering to supply a controlled drug and possession of criminal property.
- Former Co-op boss charged with possession of Class A and Class C drugs
- Flowers is accused of buying crystal meth, crack cocaine and ketamine
- Methodist minister will appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on May 7
- On arrival at West Yorkshire police station he called journalists 'vultures'
- But thanks 'nice' BBC after Newsnight interview - branded 'soft' by critics
By Chris Brooke
Disgraced former Co-op Bank chairman Paul Flowers launched an attack on the media as he was charged with three drugs offences today.
Arriving at a police station to answer bail, he told the assembled reporters and photographers that they were ‘vultures’.
However, the man dubbed the ‘Crystal Methodist’ said he would make an exception for the BBC – which had always been ‘really nice’ to him.
Flowers was charged with three counts of possessing illegal drugs and will appear before magistrates next month.
He was arrested in November following newspaper allegations that he was involved in a drug deal.
But while criticising reporters in a bizarre outburst yesterday, he said: ‘There is a phrase for some people, they call them vultures, and I really do hope that somebody quotes me on that, especially the BBC.
‘The BBC have been really nice to me but the rest of you are vultures.’
Flowers, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been charged with possession of Class A drugs cocaine and methamphetamine as well as the Class C drug ketamine.
He made no comment after leaving the police station at Stainbeck in Leeds.
Flowers, who has been attending an addiction treatment programme, turned up accompanied by two minders and carrying the book, Dazzling Darkness –– Gender, Sexuality, Illness and God.
Written by Rachel Mann, an Anglican parish priest, it is described as a ‘passionate and nuanced book’ bringing together ‘poetry, feminist theology, and philosophy and exploring them through one person’s hunger for wholeness, self-knowledge and God’.
Flowers’s solicitor Andrew Hollas said the former bank boss would make a ‘full statement’ following his appearance at Leeds Magistrates Court on May 7.
Mr Hollas also took the opportunity to criticise the media.
He said his client had been ‘hounded for six months by certain elements of the Press’ and many allegations were ‘completely without foundation’.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had ‘carefully considered’ a file of evidence against Flowers before pressing charges.
Flowers was suspended by both the Methodist Church and the Labour Party following allegations that he bought and used illegal drugs.
Flowers is charged with two counts of drugs possession
He had stepped down from his position at the Co-op last June, but publicity about his alleged drug habit prompted questions about how he was deemed suitable to run a bank.
It also emerged that he quit as a Labour councillor in Bradford after porn was found on his computer, although at the time he claimed he was leaving because of the pressure of work.
The Co-operative Bank confirmed last year it was seeking to recover payments totalling £31,000 made to Flowers amid reports that he was also the subject of an inquiry into ‘lavish’ expenses claims when he resigned.
While on bail last month, Flowers gave an interview to the BBC about the furore and admitted he had ‘sinned’.
He said: ‘I am in company with every other human being for having my frailties and some fragility exposed. Most people get through life without that ever coming into the public domain.’
He described the months since his arrest as ‘hellish’ at times.
A second man, Gavin Woroniuk, has been charged with four offences of offering to supply a controlled drug and possession of criminal property.